Senate to revive probe on maritime accidents
The Senate will investigate the sinking of a ferry ship off Batangas waters that had left six people dead and more than 20 missing since Saturday night, according to Senator Richard Gordon.
Gordon, chair of the Philippine National Red Cross, told dzBB radio on Sunday that at least 64 people survived the sinking of MV Baleno 9, a roll-on, roll off vessel that could carry up to 300 passengers as well as motor vehicles.
The senator rushed in the wee hours of Sunday to the port in Batangas City so he could lead a response team there.
Among the dead included an eight-month-old baby, two females between the ages of 15 and 24 years old and a 30-year-old man, he said.
The dead had yet to be identified by authorities as of Sunday afternoon, he added.
Gordon said the ship sank as a result of the motor vehicles on board not being secured enough in their compartment.
“The weather and sea were fine. The problem was the vehicles were not tied securely … The trip was supposed to be only for two hours but one hour and 30 minutes into the trip the vehicles there were not yet tied securely,” Gordon said.
He said he would propose an investigation into the latest maritime accident, as part of an ongoing Senate inquiry into sea accidents, which started last month by the blue ribbon committee under his chairmanship.